(FEBRUARY IS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH - 20% OFF ALL PRODUCTS AND CLEANINGS)

Dental

Congratulations for showing an interest in your pet's dental health! We all have teeth and we need them to last us a lifetime - just the same as our pets do.

Healthy teeth and gums allow pets to properly chew their food therefore aiding in digestion. Also many pets enjoy chewing on certain toys and this is part of their happiness and well being. We want to help you to keep your furry friends breath fresh and teeth clean, so we hope to help you with a few articles and website links on dental health. Enjoy!

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PETS NEED DENTAL CARE, TOO!
Bad Breath Isn't Funny Anymore

More than 85% of dogs and cats that are at least 4 years old have a condition in which bacteria attack the soft gum tissue. This condition is called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the final stage in a process that begins with the development of plaque on your pet's teeth. Plaque is a substance that forms when bacteria multiply on the teeth and gums. Plaque mixes with saliva, hardens, and becomes the substances known as tartar and calculus. Bacteria, plaque, tartar, and calculus irritate the gums, which become tender, red, and swollen. This stage of dental disease is called gingivitis. Eventually inflamed gums separate from the teeth, creating pockets that can trap more bacteria. These pockets deepen and bacteria may attack the roots of the teeth and the bony tissue of the jaw, causing teeth to loosen, the gums to bleed, mouth odor, and pain when your pet eats. This is full-blown periodontal disease.

Bacteria from the teeth and gums can enter the bloodstream and may travel to major organs and begin infection there. Among organs that are most often affected are the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. Parts of the nervous system may be affected as well. Although these infections are usually treatable when caught at an early stage, they can cause serious damage to these organs and, if not caught in time, may cause death.

Periodontal disease can be prevented and treated. The keys to your pet's oral health are professional veterinary dental care and good care at home. Too few pets receive both and most don't receive either. You can change that today!

PREVENTION

Prevention is the key to helping pets maintain good oral health. The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends that pet owners follow three important steps:
1. Visit Your Veterinarian.
Just as dental visits are the cornerstone of a human dental program, visiting a veterinarian is the key to ensuring the health of your pet's teeth. A veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet as part of the dental evaluation.
2. Start a dental care routine at home.
Removing plaque regularly from your pet's teeth should be part of your pet's home dental care routine. Ask your veterinarian about the procedure for brushing your pet's teeth. Pet owners also may feed specially formulated dietary foods that help reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar from teeth while the pet is eating. Your veterinarian can offer more information on dietary options.
3. Get Regular Veterinary Dental Checkups.
The family veterinarian needs to monitor the progress of your pet's preventive dental care routine much the same way a dentist monitor's your teeth.Regular dental checks are essential.

Once a pet's teeth display the warning signs -- bad breath, a yellow brown crust of tartar around the gumline, pain or bleeding when the pet eats or when you touch its gums--gum disease may already be present. For a professional dental check, call us today!

LINKS
An excellent site by "Hill's" on dental care for pets. Also a good site for kids to go to.
www.petdental.com